American Samoa, a group of five volcanic islands and two coral atolls
located some 2,600 mi south of Hawaii in the South Pacific, is an
unincorporated, unorganized territory of the U.S. It includes the eastern
Samoan islands of Tutuila, Aunu'u, and Rose; three islands (Ta'u, Olosega,
and Ofu) of the Manu'a group; and Swains Island. Around 1000 B.C. Proto-polynesians established themselves in the
islands, and their descendants are one of the few remaining Polynesian
societies. The Dutch navigator Jacob Roggeveen sighted the Manu'a Islands
in 1722. American Samoa has been a territory of the United States since
April 17, 1900, when the High Chiefs of Tutuila signed the first of two
Deeds of Cession for the islands to the U.S. (Congress ratified the Deeds
in 1929.) Swains Island, which is privately owned, came under U.S.
administration in 1925.

Until World War II the United States operated a coaling station and
naval base in Pago Pago. During the war, the islands were an important
U.S. Marines staging area. In 1960 American Samoa ratified its territorial
constitution and has since developed a modern, self-governing political
system. American Samoans elect a governor, lieutenant governor, and
legislature. The legislature (Fono) consists of two houses: the Senate,
selected by village chiefs (matai) for four-year terms, and the House of
Representatives, elected by the general population for two-year terms. The
people of American Samoa are U.S. nationals, not U.S. citizens, but many
have become naturalized American citizens. American Samoa does
80%–90% of its foreign trade with the U.S. Canned tuna is the
primary export, earning $300 million annually. Transfers from the U.S.
government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being.